The Alexandra Baptist Church, in conjunction with Youth With A Mission, will run its second Water Mission trip to Vanuatu in July.
Two St John paramedics, Steve Rosser and Juanita Ingram, from North of Auckland, initiated the project to provide water for people living in Vanuatu and visited the Alexandra Baptist Church last year explaining the ‘‘Water Mission''.
As a result, a group of 10 people, mainly from Alexandra, travelled with Mr Rosser to Vanuatu last year supplying water to 15 villages there.
The thatched roofs on their homes were replaced with roofing iron and spouting was put up so water could be retained in the dry wells, many of which had been previously damaged by an earthquake.
‘‘Water Mission 2009'' is to Ambrym, a volcanic Island in Vanuatu which has no source of clean drinking water.
Team leader Garry Milford, is among the group of 10 volunteers mainly from Alexandra, but including some from Wanaka and Christchurch, taking the trip.
‘‘Some villagers are reduced to drinking sea water,'' Mr Milford said.
‘‘It's just amazing that they survive.''
The group travels to Ambrym on July 4 for 10 days to help people living in villages on the island to install and repair water retention systems which enable them to have fresh drinking water.
‘‘Water is one of life's basic needs and the Ambrym Island has no source of clean water other than rainfall.''
Roofing iron can be purchased in Vanuatu, but most of the plumbing materials would be sourced in New Zealand and packed into team members' suitcases, Mr Milford said.
Pastor Derek Pyle of Alexandra said in such a short duration they could make an impact on the lives of so many people.
‘‘In 10 days we can give water to thousands of people,'' Mr Pyle said.
Although the volunteers are paying their own way, the church is raising $3000 for building supplies.
To begin the fundraising some of the Ni-Vanuatu working in Central Otago orchards performed a concert on Saturday night at the Alexandra Baptist Church.
About 130 people attended, about half of whom were fruitpickers from Vanuatu, representing a wide mix of those living on the islands.
Many of them presented items including those from Ambrym Island.
The MC for the night was Pastor Peter Bumseng of Ambrym Island, who is fruitpicking in Cromwell.
A total of $679 was raised towards the $3000 needed for building supplies for the mission trip in July.
• Further donations towards the ‘‘Water Project'' would be gratefully accepted and can be made by ringing Pastor Derek Pyle on 448 5177.
